New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2 eBook

OFFICIAL SUMMARY.

Findings Presented by the Belgian Royal Commission
to President Wilson at Washington, Sept. 16.

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I.

Acts at Linsmeau and Orsmael.

Belgium, which wanted peace, has been obliged by Germany
to resort to arms and to oppose a legitimate defense
to an aggression which nothing can justify, and which
is contrary to the solemn pledges of treaties.

Belgium is bound in honor to fight loyally and to
observe all the rules, laws, and customs of war.

From the beginning of the invasion of its territory
by German troops, the Belgian Government had posted
each and every day, in all the towns, and the papers
have each day repeatedly printed, instructions warning
the non-combatant civilians not to offer any resistance
to the troops and soldiers invading the country.

The information on which the German Government believes
today that it can base its contention that the Belgian
population contravenes the law of nations and is not
worthy of respect is absolutely unfounded.

The Government protests most vigorously against these
allegations and against the odious threats of retaliation.
If any deed contrary to the rules of warfare should
ultimately be proved, to understand such fact it is
only necessary to realize the well-founded excitement
which the cruelties of the German soldiers are provoking
among the Belgian population—­a population
which is thoroughly honest but energetic in the defense
of its rights and in its respect for humanity.

If we were to publish a list of these atrocities,
of which the first ones are here recorded, this would
indeed be a long list.

Whole regions have been ravaged and abominable deeds
perpetrated in the towns.

A committee attached to the Department of Justice
is drawing up a list of these horrors with scrupulous
impartiality.

As an example, a few facts are here published, facts
which will depict the state of mind and the procedure
of certain German troops:

1. German cavalry, occupying the
village of Linsmeau, were attacked by some Belgian
infantry and two gendarmes. A German officer was
killed by our troops during the fight, and subsequently
buried at the request of the Belgian officer
in command. None of the civilian population
took part in the fighting at Linsmeau. Nevertheless
the village was invaded at dusk Aug. 10 by a
strong force of German cavalry, artillery and
machine guns. In spite of formal assurances given
by the Burgomaster that none of the peasants had taken
part in the previous fighting, two farms and
six outlying houses were destroyed by gun fire
and burned. All the male population were then
compelled to come forward and hand over whatever arms
they possessed. No recently discharged firearms